Amusement device.



WITNESSES 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANMIAPM 130-. WASHINGTON. D. c

E. R. ERNST.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1913.

1,073,970. Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES 4 ATTORNEYS COLUMBlA FLANOGIIAPH CO.,WA$HINOTON, u c.

tlNlTEl) @TATEb PATENT (limit/E.

EMIL n. ERNST, or NEW YORK, 1v. Y.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL R. EnNs'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Amusement Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to pleasure devices, and has particular reference to merry-gorounds or roundabouts and which have a combination of movements whereby the degree of excitement and pleasure is increased.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a construction which is intended to simulate one or more aeroplanes in motion, but the same being connected to a rotary framework and so formed as to remain upon the ground and rotate upon a turntable around a fixed vertical axis.

A further object of the invention is to devise a machine or device of the character indicated which will be perfectly safe and reliable in operation and into which the passengers may freely pass from or near the ground level.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of this invention, one end being broken away and the turntable being in section showing the relation of the frame work thereto and to the ground when tilted in one direction; Fig. 2 is a plan view, parts being broken away to save space; Fig. 3 is a diagram indicating the proposition to positively rotate the turntable by motor if desired; and Fig. i is a detail of the means for controlling the position of the elevating plane, as viewed from the direction of the arrow 4 on Fig. 2.

The several parts of this device may be made of any suitable materials and the relative sizes and proportions thereof, as well as the general design of the framework and other parts may be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit of the invention hereinafter more fully described and specifically claimed.

At 10 I show a turntable of substantially Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 26, 1913.

Patent-ed Sept. 23,1913.

Serial No. 756,877.

disk-like formation adapted to rotate in a horizontal plane with its top substantially [lush with the ground line. Said turntable may have any desired arrangement or number of antifriction supports 11, the same, however, bein sccludcd below the surface in any suitable manner. If desired, the turntable may be driven by an endless belt 12 operated from a motor or power wheel 13, although under ordinary conditions the turntable will not be directly driven for rotation. Supported upon the turntable is a tiltable or rocking frame 14, the same comprising a pair of spaced rockers 15 through which the frame 14: is adapted to rock or oscillate upon the turntable within a substantially fixed vertical plane extending diametrically across the turntable. An extension 11.6 from each end of the middle portion of the frame 14 is formed in the nature of an aeroplane including one or more planes 11.7 an elevating plane 18, and a propeller 19. Each aeroplane extension has provision in the nature of seats 20 for any suitable number of passengers, and said seats are arranged in any suitable manner or position. The passengers have access to this portion of the machine by entering through an archway 21 above the exposed portion of the turntable and passing thence outwardly from the center of the device along the curved bottom 22 of the frame into either of the extensions 16. Any suitable number or arrangmncnt of guards or hand rails 23 may be provided.

Extending downwardly from the central part of the bottom of the main frame is a tongue 524i occupying or lying within the vertical plane above referred to and through a slot 25 in or at the center of the turntable and whereby the rocking frame is prevented from bodily displacement from the turntable, although leaving it free to rock thereon as above set forth. The rocking movement of the device may be limited by any suitable means, the same being illustrated, for instance, as a wheel 26 under the extension 16 and adapted to engage the surface of the ground or other base support for the construction.

Either or both of the propellers 19 may be driven by a suitable motor 27 whereby the resemblance to an aeroplane is very much increased adding to the attractiveness of the device for amusement purposes. Any

suitable gearing may be connected to the propeller shaft for rotation thereof from the engine. The elevating plane 18 may be located at any desired place andis supported on a horizontal axis 18 journaled in supports 28 extending preferably rearwardly from the aeroplane extension. The position of the plane 18 may be controlled by any suitable lever, devices, the same being herein shown as including a substantially vertical hand lever pivoted at 30 and having a flexible connection 31 connected thereto with its ends on opposite sides of the pivot 30, and the loop of the connection being mounted over a wheel 32 on the shaft 18. The lever 29 is within easy reach of the supposed aviator or conductor of the machine who may be seated at 33 in either of the extensions 16.

The operation of the machine may be briefly described as follows: With the device stationary and occupying any position with respect to tilting upon the turntable, pleasure seekers may mount the same by passing through the passageway 21, thence into either extension 16, filling the seats 20. When the signal is given to start, the operator seated at 83 may start the motor 27 by any suitable means as through a switch 34, starting the rotation of the propeller or propellers. ih hen the desired speed is reached, the force of the propellers will cause rotation of the machine and the turntable in the direction indicated by the arrows on Fig. 2, and while underway the rocking ortilting of the machine upon the turntable may be controlled by manipulationof the elevating planes 1'8, whereby great excitement and amusement should result, but there being no possibility of accident occurring to the passengers by reason of the fact that the device remains in close contact with terra firma.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent:

1. The herein described amusement device comprising a turntable movable around a fixed axis, a main frame supported and tiltable upon said turntable,'means to maintain the frame in substantially fixed relation to the turntable with respect to a vertical plane extending "diam etr ically across the turntable,

means to rotate the main frame and turntable in unison, and means to tilt the frame.

2. The herein described amusement device including a turntable having a central slot extending therethrouah, a frame adapted to carry a number of passengers supported and tiltable upon said turntable, means connected to the frame and extending through said slot to maintain the frame in a definitevertical plane with respect to the turntable,

means to rotate the frame and turntable in.

unison, and means to cause the mainframe to rock or tilt upon the turntable within said plane independently of the meansfor rotating the device. a

3. The herein described amusement device comprising a tilt-able main frame, means to support the same substantially close to the ground line, each end of the main frame simulating an aeroplane and-adapted to accommodate number of passengers, there being provided a passageway for the passengers to and from the device adjacent the center of the main frame, means to rotate the frame including a motor pertinent to each aeroplane, and means under the control of the operator in each aeroplane extension for governing the elevation" of either" the controller station formanipulating the elevatin plane of each aeroplane 'wherebv the tilting operation ofthe main frame may be varied and controlled simultaneously with the rotation thereof, substantiallyas set forth. I a

In testi'monyrwhereof I have signed my two subscribing witnesses.

' EMIL R. ERNST.

WVitnesses: v j V Gno. L. BEEIJER,

PHILIP l). RoL-LrrAUs,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of @atents Washington, D. C.

name to this specification in the presence of i 

